9.10. Software Selection
If you install Fedora in text mode, you cannot make package selections. The installer automatically selects packages only from the base and core groups. These packages are sufficient to ensure that the system is operational at the end of the installation process, ready to install updates and new packages. To change the package selection, complete the installation, then use the yum utiliy to make desired changes.
To specify which packages Fedora will install, select Software Selection from the Installation Summary Menu.
By default, Fedora installs the GNOME Desktop Environment, but in Software Selection you can choose from a range of other environments and customise additional packages to be installed as add-ons. Available environments are listed in the left-hand pane. To select an environment, click the radio button that corresponds to one of the following options:
- Graphical Desktops (multiple options, one radio button each)
Fedora offers a variety of graphical desktop environments, which can be enhanced with add-ons such as the LibreOffice productivity suite, graphical tools such as the GIMP, and multimedia applications. The available environments are:
- Development and Creative Workstation
This option provides the necessary tools to compile software and develop graphics and other content on your Fedora system.
- Web Server
This option provides the Apache web server.
- Infrastructure Server
This option provides a server for operating network infrastructure services.
- Basic Desktop
This option provides the X Window System without a full graphical desktop environment. Optionally, you can select a window manager.
- Minimal Install
This option provides only the packages essential to run Fedora. A minimal installation provides the basis for a single-purpose server or desktop appliance and maximizes performance and security on such an installation.
Only one desktop environment can be selected at install time. To install additional environments once Fedora is installed, use the
Software tool or the
yum groupinstall command. Refer to the
Fedora System Administrators Guide for information about using
yum.
Fedora will automatically install the base and mandatory packages for the environment you select, but you can select additional package groups, or add-ons, from the right-hand pane. The list of add-ons is refreshed when a new environment is selected, with packages specific to the environment at the top. Add-ons range from common utilities such as Administrative Tools and LibreOffice to specialist tools such as RPM Development Tools and Design Suite
To specify add-ons for installation as part of the environment, select the check box next to each add-on.
Once you have selected an environment and any additional packages you may wish to install, click Done to return to the Installation Summary Menu.
The packages that you select are not permanent. After you boot your system, use the Add/Remove Software tool to either install new software or remove installed packages. To run this tool, from the main menu, select → → . The Fedora software management system downloads the latest packages from network servers, rather than using those on the installation discs.
9.10.1. Core Network Services
All Fedora installations include the following network services:
centralized logging through the systemd journal
network file sharing through NFS (Network File System)
remote access through SSH (Secure SHell)
resource advertising through mDNS (multicast DNS)
The default installation also provides:
network file transfer through HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)
printing through CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System)
remote desktop access through VNC (Virtual Network Computing)
Some automated processes on your Fedora system use the email service to send reports and messages to the system administrator. By default, the email, logging, and printing services do not accept connections from other systems. Fedora installs the NFS sharing, HTTP, and VNC components without enabling those services.
You may configure your Fedora system after installation to offer email, file sharing, logging, printing and remote desktop access services. The SSH service is enabled by default. You may use NFS to access files on other systems without enabling the NFS sharing service.
